By Michaela Kieffer
Contributing Writer
DE PERE – Pediatric mental health clinic Empower Play announced the launch of its comprehensive, play-based mental health services on June 1.
Based in De Pere and focusing on early intervention, Empower Play integrates therapeutic play, family engagement and evidence-informed care to help children build resilience, confidence and lifelong coping skills.
“Empower Play began with a simple question,” said Katie Szerkins, owner and therapist at Empower Play. “How can we truly help and support children in foster care?”
Szerkins’ journey started in her own home when she reached into the diaper bag of a child in foster care and was poked by a heroin needle.
“To say it shifted my perspective would be an understatement,” Szerkins said. “My instinct was to ignore it and move on — but that feeling was short-lived before fear and anger took over. Ultimately, I chose a third option: determination.”
In her 30s, Szerkins returned to school and earned her master’s degree in social work, all while raising six young children.
“Through my internships, I discovered that children’s mental health was where I truly belonged. But [I] also noticed something troubling: a significant gap existed in how traditional therapy approaches met the needs of children, especially those who have experienced trauma,” Szerkins explained.
Her discovery led her to play therapy — an alternative approach that honors the child’s voice while building trust and allowing healing to take place through play, movement and expressive art.
“It is a model that meets children where they are, incorporating their unique interests and strengths while supporting their emotional and mental well-being,” Szerkins said.
After discovering the play-approach, the idea of Empower Play began to grow.
“The approach at Empower Play is different because the experience is different, from the moment you walk through our doors,” Szerkins said. “Families often tell us, ‘We feel at home here.’”
Empower Play is equipped with child therapists who can connect with kids from all backgrounds and circumstances, whether they have experienced trauma, anxiety, ADHD, grief or other emotional and behavioral challenges.
“We meet them with understanding, patience and care,” Szerkins said. “Our goal is always to create a therapeutic experience that is warm, playful, professional and deeply respectful of each child’s unique story. Here, therapy doesn’t feel intimidating; it feels safe, empowering and approachable.”
Empower Play also reflects their philosophy through the environment they have created with a waiting room designed with families in mind. Toys, activities and space to play can be found along with a coffee bar and snacks.
“We welcome the joyful, sometimes noisy energy of children. Instead of a sterile or clinical atmosphere, we’ve created a space that feels inviting, comfortable and alive, because we believe real healing happens when children feel at ease,” said Szerkins.
Therapists at Empower Play explore the places where traditional therapy approaches fall short.
For younger people who have experienced trauma, talk therapy can rely too heavily on skills that have not been fully developed at their age, including verbal expression, logic and self-reflection, according to a press release from Empower Play.
“At Empower Play, we don’t expect children to step into the adult world, we step into theirs. We believe children don’t need to be talked at; they need to be seen, heard and understood. By meeting them at their developmental level, we create space for authentic expression, connection, healing and growth,” Szerkins explained.
With the support of a trained therapist, kids are able to explore their fears, frustrations, experiences and hopes, all through play. Over time, the approach builds emotional awareness, coping skills and confidence.
Empower Play’s services are designed for kids ages three and up, teens, adults and families.
Customized care plans are made and tailored to individual needs, with offerings such as play therapy, parent coaching and family support, early intervention services and trauma-informed care.
“Our care is also deeply individualized. No two children are alike, which means no two sessions are the same. We follow each child’s lead, incorporating what naturally engages them. By meeting children where they are and using what they love, we help them grow in ways that feel meaningful and empowering,” Szerkins said.
Szerkins explained that the most effective way to support a child’s mental health is to support the entire system while giving them the tools to process trauma, build trust and heal in ways that feel safe, natural and empowering.
“Through this work, I found the answer to that original question,” she said. “The greatest impact comes from providing developmentally appropriate, connection-based mental health care centered on creativity, relationships and trust – not just for children who have experienced trauma, but for all children… At its core, Empower Play exists to help children grow and heal through connection, creativity and the power of play.”
For more information on Empower Play, visit empowergb.org.
Pass It Forward™ editorial is sponsored by Packers Give Back, Nicolet National Bank and the National Trust for Local News.
Keywords
Pediatric mental health clinic Empower Play,
comprehensive,
play-based mental health services,
De Pere,
Katie Szerkins